Box structure



Nov. 24, 1959 F. MALMAD BOX STRUCTURE Filed July 9, 1957 United States Patent BOX STRUCTURE Fred Malmad, Newton, Mass.

Application July 9, 1957, Serial No. 670,722

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-41) The present invention relates to a box and cover, particularly adapted to be erected into a completely and permanently formed box from a semi-erected and fiat intermediate stage of structure.

In the art of box manufacture two principal types of boxes are commonly used, for such purposes as packaging shoes and the like. One type of box, the set-up box, is delivered to the consumer by the manufacturer as a completely formed unit. This particular type of box is rugged and can withstand a great deal of abuse. However, it has the drawback of occupying a substantial amount of space before it is actually filled with the goods in connection with which it is used. This is due to the fact that such boxes cannot be folded for storage.

A second type of box, the folding box, is designed to overcome the objectionable feature of the set-up box, insofar as the problem of storage is concerned. The folding box is formed in a tubular arrangement having four continuous sides with the flaps adapted to interlock and form a bottom on erecting a folding box.

This particular structure can be folded into a compact shape for storage and conveniently be erected into its final form with great facility. However in all such devices, the box weakness by providing a generous overlapping flap in the bottom does not satisfy or overcome the general weakness of the structure, as these flaps may still slide relative to one another.

The present invention provides a box to overcome the defects of both of the previously mentioned types of structure. In the present invention there is provided a collapsed box having in substance the configuration of a folding box with however, a further provision for self adhesive areas in strategically located positions, such that when the box is erected into its ultimate shape, facing areas of adhesive material adapted to adhere to complementary surfaces only, will be provided in the bottom flap area in such locations as to provide a rigid and nondeformable bottom member.

In addition the present invention provides a structure in which the adhesive area adapted to adhere only to complementary areas are located in such positions that the box when folded into its flat and storage position will not face other areas of adhesive material and thereby stick to' such areas. Further, a plurality of such collapsed forms may be piled uniformly without complementary adhesive surfaces facing each other, even though adhesive areas are provided on both surfaces of the box blank.

There is also provided in the present invention, a cover structure utilizing the same general principle as herein described, in which the covers may be erected into a permanent cover shape from a semi-erected position or shape, which is particularly adapted for storage purposes. These and other objects of the present invention will ice be more clearly understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank of which the box is formed, illustrating the various areas of adhesive material.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the assemble'd box, with one side wall and one end wall removed,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank from which a cover for the box may be formed, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the box in a semi-erected position.

The box of the present invention may be made of any suitable material, such as cardboard or the like, with the material being of such a nature that it is adapted to be scored and hinged along selected lines.

The box is formed from the blank illustrated in Figure 1 with side walls 1 and 2 and end walls 3 and 4 alternately arranged as indicated. The upper edges of these walls are provided with flaps 5, 6, 7 and 8 adapted to fold over onto the inside of the walls, forming a finished upper edge in the box as indicated at 9 and 10. The walls and the upper flaps are respectively longitudinally adjacent one another and are defined by transversely extending hinge lines 12, 13 and 14. The end wall 4 and side wall 1 are secured together by overlapping and cementing the end tabs 15 and 16 together. These tabs may have their facing surfaces coated with adhesive material adapted to secure only to other areas of similar adhesive material although for this particular cemented portion any type of conventional adhesive may be used. Extending from the bottom edge of each side wall 1 and 2 is a bottom flap 17, 18, defined from the side walls by the longitudinal hinge lines 19, 20. Extending from the bottom edge of the end walls 3, 4 are the end fiaps 21, 22, defined from the side walls by the longitudinally extending hinge lines 23, 24.

The side flaps 17, 18 are each provided with a longitudinally extending tongue 26, 27 formed at the free edge thereof which is parallel to the hinge lines 19, 20. This tongue is provided with a slot 23 near its inner edge. It will be noted that thetongues extend beyond the mid point of the side flaps with the slots 23 adapted to interengage one another when the box is in an erected position. At the end of the side flaps, opposite the tongues 26, 27 is a flared portion 30, 31 with the flared portion having an end width nearly equal to the width of the end walls 3, 4. Preferably, this flared portion should have substantially the width of the end Walls over a length of the side flap, as is indicated at 33.

The end flaps 21, 22 extend in a substantially tapered shape from the hinge lines 23, 24 to the edge 35, 36, preferably parallel to the hinge lines 23, 24. It should be noted that these end flaps 21, 22 are stiff throughout their surface areas and fold only at the hinge lines 23, 24. On

part defined by angular hinge lines 38, 39 extending at an 'acute angle to the longitudinally extending hinge lines 19,

20'from the junction of these hinge lines and the transversely extending hinge lines 12, 14.

The blank as described is provided with selected areas of adhesive material. The adhesive material is so chosen that it will adhere only to other surfaces of similar adhesive material. Such adhesives are well known in the art as for example latex adhesive material. The areas on one side of the blank include areas 40, 41 and 42 while on the other side of the blank areas 43, 44, 4S and 46 are covered with adhesive material. The preferred scope of these areas is illustrated in the drawings. However, such areas may be of course varied as desired. When the box is folded into a tubular form, areas 42 and 43 will be joined in a permanent bond. In this position, with the end flaps and side flaps folded upwardly against the inner surfaces of the side and end walls, the flared portions of the side flaps will engage in a cemented relation with the end flaps along respectively the portion between hinge lines 19, and lines 38, 39 and a portion adjacent the hinge lines 23, 24. The remaining adhesive area, however, which is on the other side of the angular hinge lines 38, 39 on the side flaps will not contact the adhesive area of the remaining portion of the end flaps. These remaining portions, best illustrated in Figure 4 at 45 and '40, lie in the semi-erected state on either side of the angular hinge line 38.

The adhesive areas 44 in the semi-erected state face each other but are displaced from each other a short dis,- tance so that there is no actual contact.

When the box is erected into its permanent set-up posi tion by applying pressure to diametrically opposite transverse hinge lines 12, 14, the box will take the shape as illustrated in Figure 2. In this figure, the adhesive areas indicated at 45' and 40' will come into Contact with one another forming a reinforced cemented area indicated at 50, 51. Additionally, the cemented areas 44 will contact complementary portions of the adhesive areas 40, 41, forming cemented portions 52, 53. It will be noted in this structure that when the box is formed in its set-up position, there is a substantially continuous adhesive seam diagonally across the bottom of the box, rigidly securing the box in its final and desired shape. It will also be noted that when the box is formed in a tubular form, prior to complete erection, the adhesive areas which form the transverse adhesive portions illustrated in Figure 2, to not contact other adhesive areas. Moreover, these adhesive areas are formed in such a manner as to permit stacking of a plurality of blanks in tubular form, one, above another, with no areas of adhesive material on one partially assembled box contacting adhesive areas on another box. Thus, this structure may readily be stored in collapsed form until its use is desired, at which time by simple pressure applied to diagonally opposite transverse hinge lines, the box may be erected into a final form with the final box being provided with a bottom of substantial strength as a transverse cemented seam is formed across the overlapping portions of the flaps which form the bottom.

Illustrative of the present invention is the cover which utilizes a similar principle to that utilized in the formation of the box proper. In Figure 3 there is illustrateda cover having a top 60, side walls 61, 62 and end walls 63, 64.

The walls in this cover are hinged to the respective sides I and ends of the top along hinge lines 65. The end walls 63, 64 are each provided with flaps 66, extending from the end edges, with these flaps preferably tapered as illus trated. The sides 61, 62, are each provided with angular hinge lines 67 extending at an acute angle to the hinge line 65. Adhesive areas are provided on one side of the walls over an area extending on both sides of the hinge line 67, as illustrated at 68. On the other side of the blank, adhesive areas are provided on the flaps or tabs 66. These covers may therefore be semi-erected by permitting the tabs 66 to engage the portions of the side walls 61, 62 outside of the acute angle formed by the angular hinge line 66 in an area indicated at 70. In this arrangement, the side walls 61, 62 will be folded inwardly against the top 60 while the portion 70 will be folded in a reverse direction so as to engage the adhesive portions of the flaps 66. In this arrangement the tips of the flaps 66 will not contact the adhesive, areas on the side walls 61, 62 within the acute angle formed by the angular hinge line 67. When the side walls 61 are folded outwardly again into a normal position with respect to the top, the tips of the flaps 66 will contact this area Within the angular hinge line, thus forming a permanently erected and rigid cover.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A carton adapted to be permanently formed into an erected structure from an integral blank comprising two pair of longitudinally aligned side and end walls each transversely hinged to the adjacent wall, said side and end walls each having respectively side and end flaps each integral along a bottom hinge line to an adjacent side and end wall respectively, a tongue formed along the free edge parallel said hinge line of each side flap adapted to interlock the tongue on the other side flap when the box is set up, said side flaps each also having an angular hinge extending at an acute angle to said side wall from the end of said transverse hinge between adjacent side and end walls, said end flaps each adapted to overlap one of said angular hinges when the box is set-up, adhesive areas adapted to stick only to complementary adhesive areas comprising, on one surface of the blank, an area within each of said acute angles and along the free edges of said side flaps over which said tongues are adapted to rest when the box is set up, and on the other surface of the blank an area on said end flaps adapted to engage said area within said acute angle and on said tongue adapted to overlap said free edge when the box is set up.

2. A carton adapted to be permanently formed into an erected structure from a semi-formed structure, said structure comprising two pair of side and end walls with each wall transversely hinged to the adjacent wall forming a tubular body, said side and end walls each having respectively side and end flaps each integral along a bottom hinge line to an adjacent side and end wall respectively, means forming on each side flap interchangeable members for interlocking said side flaps when the box is erected, means hingedly interengaging each side flap with an adjacent end flap along an angular hinge line extending from the end of one of said transversely hinged lines with said end flap stiff and extending freely at its end beyond said angular hinge line, adhesive areas adapted to stick only to complementary adhesive areas comprising areas on said ends of said end flaps on the surface facing said side flaps and areas on said side flaps on the surface facing said ends of said end flaps.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by adhesive areas on facing and complementary portions of said means forming interengageable members.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means forming interengageable members comprise a tongue on each side flap adapted to interengage the tongue on the other side flap and partially overlap the other side fiap with adhesive areas on facing and complementary portions of said tongues and side flaps adapted to adhere together when said box is set up, thereby forming a permanently set-up box with overlapping bottom portions cemented together.

References Cited in the file of this patentv UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,072,371 Kaplan Mar. 2, 1937 2,177,856 Bennett Oct. 3-1, 1939 2,327,709 Himes Aug. 24, 1943 2,332,250 OReilly Oct. 19, 1943 2,538,860 Buttery Jan. 23, 1951 

